How to Increase Your Faith

What is faith? Can you pray for faith? How can we increase our faith? Are we saved by faith?

Faith is a gift of God but during times of doubt we often feel that it is difficult to have faith. When things seem to be collapsing around us and maybe unpaid bills begin stacking up, and it looks to be impossible to just keep our heads above water, we ask “Where is God in our difficulty?” How can you increase your faith when you see no evidence for it?

What is Faith?

The dictionary’s definition of faith is to have belief in and to trust in something or someone with no physical evidence that you can see it. Faith is to hold a conviction too, to have reliance in, to have assurance of, to feel confidence about, and to have trust in something or someone. Faith is based upon something that might not be visible to the naked eye but still having a realization that it is substantial and real. I drive over a large bridge that is elevated on my way to work. I do not see the underlying steel girders and concrete supports, yet I have confidence that the bridge will hold me up. I have assurance in something that I can not see but trust that it will support me because it has held up my car hundreds of times. I do not have to see the underneath of the bridge to know that there is evidence that it will support me. This is what faith is all about.

When a father brought his demon possessed boy to Jesus he believed that Jesus could heal him by saying “I do believe” (Mark 9:24). So why did the father say in this same verse, “Help my unbelief?“ He asked Jesus for help in his unbelief. He believed Jesus could heal him yet he still had some doubt and asked Jesus to help in his lack of belief. This has been my own experience as well. I believe and have faith in Jesus, but I also experience times of doubt that seem to overwhelm me.

Jesus tells us to “Have faith in God” because “Truly if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it w

ill be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours“(Mark 11:22-24). Jesus associates believing in God and trusting in His ability as having faith. The man who brought his demon possessed boy to Jesus had faith in Christ but he lacked complete assurance and trust. This lack was due to his own disbelief, not to a lack of believing in Jesus. So even though it seems paradoxical to say “Lord I do believe” and then “Help my unbelief” it appears that he was praying for Jesus to strengthen his faith.

I am not going to be too hard on this man because he had his doubts- in fact I would say, “Welcome to the human race!” When we pray for something that is God’s will, He will surely answer that prayer, but as James 1:6 says, “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” It is so hard to pray for something and believe with 100% certainty that God will answer that prayer because we rely on our five senses. We only believe what we see and so it is hard to believe in something that has not yet been seen. Nevertheless, God will hear and answer our prayer but the answer might not be what we had hoped for. God rarely gives us what we want as much as He gives us what we need. Praying to God for Him to increase your faith is one that I truly believe that He will answer. If we pray with doubt in our prayers, it is like doubting God’s ability. Here is the Biblical definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is defined in the Bible much like the dictionary describes it. It is a confident, assurance in believing God. It is not a hope-so but a know-so.

Can You Pray For Faith?

Yes you can pray for faith. Matthew 7:7-11 points the way to receiving from God what we desperately need: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?” Faith is most certainly a good thing to ask the Father for so why not pray to Him to receive it?

How To Increase Your Faith

How Can We Increase Our Faith?

One way to increase your faith is to read the Word of God (the Bible). Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message (the Word or the Bible), and the message is heard through the word about Christ.“ That word about Christ is the Bible. This means that faith comes from hearing the message at church from your pastor or teachers, during Bible studies, and reading your Bible. Paul says that “the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Since Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Word of God is Christ, reading the Bible is a great way to increase your faith.

Faith is not the power of positive thinking or positive reinforcement. It is not found within the will of the human mind. It is not pulling oneself up by their own bootstraps. It is not by any human effort at all except by the intake of the Word of God. Faith is a gift from God and He will give you or increase your faith by the daily reading of the Bible and we know that what we lack, we can ask for (James 1:5). We can increase our faith by reading and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) but also by trusting in Jesus even though we can not see Him today. John 20:29 makes it crystal clear as Jesus said in John 20:29, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” If you trust in Jesus, then you already possess faith and without faith we can never really please God (Heb. 11:6).

The fact is that we are justified by the faith that God gives us as Paul explains in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Galatians 3:26 states, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” If you are a believer in Christ, then you are in Christ and if you are in Christ, then you have been given the gift of faith by God. Paul says in Romans 11:20 that as believers “we stand by faith.” First Corinthians 15:17 says that if we believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead, as born-again believers do, then our “faith is not in vain.”

Saved by Faith

We are actually saved by faith – faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But before Christ had come to the earth to die for us, Abraham was justified by faith. Look at what I call the “Hall or Faith” in Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Abraham was not the only one who was saved by faith before Christ’s death on Calvary. There were dozens of men and women who were saved by their faith even before the atoning work of Christ by His shed blood in Hebrews 11:
Verse 4“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”

Verse 5“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”

Verse 7“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”

Verse 8,9“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”

There are so many more that had faith before the Promised Seed had come and that Seed was Jesus Christ. The good news is that faith comes by the hearing and the reading of the Word of God, the Bible (Rom 10:17), faith comes by asking God to strengthen our faith (Mark 9:24, Matthew 7:7-11), and we can pray for faith (James 1:6). The plain fact is that God has given us the gift of faith when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ. As Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Since God gives us faith as a gift, never doubt that anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God and takes away their sins, already has faith – we just have to increase our faith and I pray this article helps you do just that.

Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author, freelance writer, and pastor of Central Christian Church in Lincoln, KS & also a Prison Minister. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. His books are inexpensive paperbacks that are theological in nature: “Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children,“ “Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?,“ "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and “Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible."

Jack has written 1050 articles on What Christians Want To Know! Read them in the archive below.

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Ditmar, I want to thank you so much my friend. I need help in my faith for it is often in short supply in times to trials and suffering. May God richly bless you my friend and thank you for visiting us.

faith: thanks for expaunding on it. I love Christ Jesus. I want to have a much stronger faith than i have now. I trust in God, no doubt… But my faith is not as strong as i want. Pls pray for me. Keep encouraging God’s pple and may God bless you!

Hello David. Yes my friend, it is a privilege to pray for the saints of God. I hope these verses in this article can help you for there is truly power in the Word of God and not in our own selves. Hebrews 11 is a great place to put your trust and increase your faith.

This was a great article. You put in the article exactly how I feel, when you write that you believe in Jesus Christ but at times you have doubt. I am just like this. I have believed in Jesus almost all my whole life. In 1996, I was diagnosed with MS in the prime of my life. I had finally gotten a good job, I was making good money and I had good benefits. I was 33 years old. Things got progressively worse when I finally had to go on a disability in 2005. Now, after that I was shaken to the core of my being as well as my faith. Every year things seem to get worse, harder to move and walk, and, I admit that my faith took a hit. I know that at this time I cannot do better without the help of Jesus Christ. I know that I have to stay in the word and continue to learn.

Thank you Dereck my friend. I actually wrote from experience and so I know what you mean my good friend. Your journey sounded like it was such a test of faith but your faith is strong in the Lord Who delivers us my friend. Amen to staying in the Word of God…there is real power in His Word.

Hello Jack,
What an excellent article on faith. We can always strengthen it. And it helps when Christians come together to praise Him and support one another. I have my Bible right next to me and I have highlighted many of the verses from your article. Thank you. You are sowing seeds of faith and hope and God is using you to reach out to others to spread His Word. What a blessing. Keep up the good work.
And remember… 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Be strong in the Lord always… and HAVE FAITH… He has already created us to be great. He is in control and He never leaves us. God bless you.

Erica, thank you so very much for your kind words to me. I struggle with my faith, believe me. Words of encouragement like yours go a long way in helping me stay true to the faith once delivered and I am grateful for it.

i have been trying to send a personal email on your contact page but it will not allow me to send it…it keeps telling me to contact you a different way…is there another way i can get this email to you??!!
thanks

I am so sorry Ashely that you had trouble contacting us but I just did send a private email message to you so you can reply to the email and ask in confidentiality and privacy and we will never share your question, name, or email address with anyone.

My faith in God isnt strong like it use to be. I turned my eyes of jesus in my mid twenties and started living for myself. Now I’m 31 & can see the time I wasted spiritually, indulging in earthly desires such as the wrong relationship, secular career, etc. I now feel like living for jesus, in all that I do, stronger than ever, yet my faith is tempted & my doubt gets in th way daily. I don’t have the eyes of a child anymore & I want them back.

I feel you and I know exaclly where you are coming from. I have believed in God through Jesus Christ almost my whole life. I was saved when I was 29 years old, I got baptized when I was 37 years old. I am now 49 years old. During this whole time, I was still not living the way God would want me to live. I did my own thing until recently. Don’t get me wromg, I have continueously believed in the saving power of God through Jesus Christ, but, we have to sacrifice. I was having inappriate sexual relationships with women, I had a girlfriemd that had an abortion, I had a relationship with a woman that was married. I knew it was wrong, but, I did these things any way. Because it was about me. Even though I believed, I still did things in life for me.

In coming to this site, it is going to help you. And, as I know Jack will tell you, go to 1 Jonn 1:9, It basicly tells us to confess our sins to God and He will forgive you. Now God cannot lie. Take Him at His word. You can take that to the bank. I will continue to pray for you. Take care.

I loved Dereck’s comment. I also like that he cited 1 John 1:9. That is a memory verse every Christian should commit to memory. I would recommend to you to read 1 John chapter 4. This chapter is a “know so” chapter and it really solidifies your faith because John says “know” so many times. You can not trust human feelings and doubts. Which do you trust more…human doubts or the Word of God. Please read 1 John chapters 4 and all of 1 John in fact. I will really cast away your fears (John 6:37, John 1:28-29). Also John 10 is awesome.

Thanks brothers,
It sounds like I will be okay after all. I just need to keep reading the word of God. I appreciate the scriptures that both of you have asked me to read. Dereck thank you for sharing your testimony with me and your prayers. I can never have too many prayers lifted up to Jesus for my soul. Jack I really like how you phrased it ” Which do you trust more…human doubts or the Word of God”. That touch me and set me free to realize I shouldn’t use my earthly mind to analysis faith. Thanks again, Im gonna turn to the word of God and prayer!

A couple of days back my unbelieving husband wanted to talk to me about how he read in a newspaper that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene !! I refused to listen !! But i must admit I am shaky since then … I’ve been trying soo hard to stop unbelieving thoughts from entering my heart & mind about Jesus !! I DO NOT WANT TO BELIEVE IT … but the doubts got a tiny hold in my mind ..
Now I’m trying to find my way back to unquestioning Faith in my Lord
Your post gave me such relief & joy ! to know i’m not alone in my struggle for complete faith in Our Lord Jesus .There are ups & there will be downs too …

I just wanna thank God for revealing this article and many others to me. This shows that God is actually hearing not only so but answering my prayers. Thank you and may our good God bless you, may He reveal many other influencial things than these. I thank His holy son Jesus christ our Lord for am gonna move foward, I’ll never be the same. Thank you.

Thank you for this article Jack, i am 12 yrs old and i am in search of more faith, because i am young and so why would i not be a victim to any spiritual attacks from demons and so pastor please pray for me as i am in the search of faith.

I am glad you want to have more faith. Please re-read the article. Faith is received when we read the Bible and when we worship at and are fed by local pastors and Sunday school teachers in a local church. Do you attend a local church? Many churches have Sunday school for 12-year-olds. Also, the sermons that the pastors give are good ways to increase you faith but so is reading the Word of God, the Bible. That is my recommendation.

Jack,
My faith has been growing. It all started with God asking me to start listening to christian music and not secular radio stations. Listening to our local christain radio station really ministered to my spirit. Also, since mid-september when I first wrote you, ive been attending a wonderful church regularly (columbia baptist church). Ive also been spending time in Gods word regularly and journaling what I’m learning. I feel that my faith is strengthening. I feel Gods love and feel alive in Him.

Good article. I am writing a new post on our facebook page, scheduled for tomorrow (10:45am), and I am quoting and referencing this article. Thanks, Jack! PS: have you heard of the resource materials from June Hunt and Hope For The Heart? See more at http://www.hopefortheheart.org or see our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HopeForTheHeart

Hello Mr. Armstrong. June Hunt is one of the finest women of faith that I know of. She is so making a difference in the lives of men and women for eternity. Thank you for allowing us to be posted on such a fantastic ministry that is biblically sound, theologically strong, and biblically oriented. This lady is truly Holy Spirit-inspired. I listen to her when I can during the day & her overnight program, Hope in the Night is equally incredible. Thanks brother.

DEAR ,HOSANNA ,HOSANNA ,HOSANAN TENDER MERCY AND GRACE ON KIM ,ANDREA ,GERRETT JESUS MAYN,WE PLEASE BE BLESS WITH OUR PRAYERS AND PROVISIONS BE BROUGHT TRUE TOO COME TOO PASS AS REALITY IN OUR LIVES PLEASE JESUS ,WE WILL AWAIT AND JESUS ,WE WILL STAND STILL AND JESUS ,WE WILL HOLD ON INTOO YOUR TENDER UNCHANGEING HANDS AND ANGELS AND ANSWERS AND ARMS JESUS ,MAY ,WE PLEASE BE BLESS TOO BE MOVED AND LIFT UP AND OUT OF POVERTY AND BONDAGES AND INTOO FREEDOM AND JESUS MAY ,WE PLEASE BE BLESSS TOO BE MOVED FAR ,FAR ,FAR AWAYS FROM THIS CRIMES INFESTED COMMNUITY CITY AREA AND JESUS LIVEING INTOOA BETER ENVOIRMENT AND ATTMOSPHERE INTOO BETHESDA MD. JESUS MAY ,WE PLEASE BE BLESS TOO RECIEVE THE NEW AND PAID IN FULL OFFICAL FIRST TIME EVER FRONT DOORS KEYS TOO OOOO ARROWOOD RD. INTOO BETHESDA MD. JESUS ,WE WILL PROMISE TOO GIVE ALL AND ALL PRAISES AND TOO ALWAYS SOUT GLORYS AND SING SONG OF PRAISES AND GLORYFIED THE KING IS STILL ALIVE AND ABBA GOD THE FATHER ARE BOTH PASSING OUT MIRCALES AND JESUS MAY ,WE PLEASE BE BLESS TOO BE MIRCALES TOO OTHER ,JESUS ,WE THANK ,LOVE AND APPRECAITES ALL THAT YOU HAVE EVER DONE AND WILL EVER DO KIM ,ANDREA ,GERRETT AS A FAMILY JESUS ,LORD ,GOD ,ABBA THE FATHER ,AHALLAUHA ,AHALALUAHA ,HALAUAHA AMEN AMEN,.

Hello Margaret. The answer to your question is in this article. We must pray for God to increase our faith…faith comes by hearing and hearing by (and thru) the Word of God, the Bible. I suggest you talk to your pastor too. You can increase your faith by being in a church and being fed the Word of God, also in Sunday school you grow more, and draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. Have you a church home? No Christian can grow as in Romans chapter 12 and 1 Cor chapter 13 alone. You must imerse yourself into the Body of Christ, the church, where Jesus is the Head.

i love how i am not alone in my struggle of doubt, i know how you feel Lency i am in the same situation you are in, i have come to trust in God a little more now and taking God at his word but sometimes my doubts are pretty strong and the biggest doubt i have is is i am saved. I have been struggling for a few months in this but m taking God at his word. It can get a little frighting cause of my constant doubting.

i hope noone thinks im crazy but i had a dream yesterday, heaven opened up and i saw jesus but like in cartoon form and a computer came from the cloud and people with an orange tag were saved and i got an orange tag. that means your saved, and i have been doubting my salvation

Genesis….I don’t think anyone would think you’re crazy. I know we should not limit God and perhaps this dream came to you as a reminder of just how secure you are for remember, nothing happens that does happen that is outside of the knowledge of God.

i think it is scary to rely on the holy spirit cause i always think that my works have something to do with my salvation when i know they don’t. I would sometimes have to battle satan all day cause i would fight back satan with the word of god but sometimes i am facing temptation and trials and i feel overwhelmed cause of the responsibility i have to do to fight him off. Was wondering what i should do?

Hello again Genesis. 1 Peter 5:8-9 wrote to “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

“Resist” here is the identical Greek word (anthistemi) found also in our other two Scripture portions — that is, James 4:7 (“Resist the devil”) and Ephesians 6:13 (“…to stand your ground” [NIV] … “to withstand” ). To resist the devil, “Draw nigh to God”. The nearer you live to God in your daily life, the more difficult you make it for the devil to harass you. This means even when you don’t feel like it pray, 3 times a day, read your Bible daily (I love the gospel of John and 1, 2 and 3rd John) and talk to your pastor. Do you have a church home? We must pray for God to increase our faith…faith comes by hearing and hearing by (and thru) the Word of God, the Bible. I suggest you talk to your pastor and not just a church member. You can increase your faith by being in a church and being fed the Word of God, also in Sunday school you grow more, and draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. Have you a church home? No Christian can grow as in Romans chapter 12 and 1 Cor chapter 13 alone. You must imerse yourself into the Body of Christ, the church, where Jesus is the Head. Otherwise you will always remain in doubt and be an easy target of the Devil who is like a roaring lion, roaming about seeking whom he might devour and he looks for stragglers or lone prey who are outside of the sheepfold of the Great Shepherd. THAT’s what you should do…now will you do it? Tomorrow’s Easter Sunday. You need to be there to worship the risen Lord.

i do sin allot less than i did (1john 3:9) , i also confessed that he was the son of god (1john4:16) i try and let the spirit lead me (romans 8:14) and i said he died on the cross for my sins (romans 3:25) i am also helping others (1james 2:14-26) this is allot of proof.

satan is making me doubt that i am saved so i wont continue in my journey with god. I have been trying to move in my christian journey but the doubt of my salvation makes me stop in my tracks an think about if i am saved or not. Satan knows that if he makes me doubt my salvation than he has me in his trap. It has been going on for a few months.

hey jack maybe the reason why it has been frustrating for me and how it has been months since this has been going on, is because i have been doing all of this by myself and not been relying on the grace of god to change me. How can i live by the grace and power of god?

Hello Genesis. I believe you are already half way there. To realize that we can not overcome or grow in grace and by His power is half the battle. I would suggest that you might try to fast for 1 day (if you have no pre-existing medical conditions and your Dr. sees no problem with it) and stay in prayer and ask for God’s power for James wrote that if we ask we will recieve, if we ask in prayer and no doubt this is the will of God for you to live by His power and take in His amazing grace. I believe that daily Bible reading, particularly the gospel of John and 1, 2, & 3rd John will also help much.

I am a truck driver had an accident on the 8th of this month,luckily no one was injured.
Got charged with careless driving ( that is a death sentence workwise for a trucker) so I got a lawyer to fight it to reduce it.
Got terminated at work, tomorrow is my grievance meeting to get my job back.
Last few guys doing similar accidents all got their job back.
This past week and a half teaching me that even if I will be without this job I should be looking for Jesus and lot stronger faith.
I loved this article.
How easy to forget about faith when times are good…so far that is/was my life.
I want to believe that I can change.

Frank, thank you so much sir for your comment. I promise to pray for you that all turns out for your best and that Jesus’ name is glorified in the answer to the prayer. You are so right about faith. It is easy to forget about it until we need to have faith but may God grant you a strengthening of your faith in this time to trouble.

Had a meeting today….did not go as I hoped…was told that I will not get job back.
This was not the real grievance meeting though, just my boss’ boss was here so steward brought me in to talk to him.
No success.
I continue with my spiritual rebuild , downgrade financial hopes, happy that have a wife who would never leave me.
Life is a rollercoaster …now I feel stuck on the bottom.
Jack….thank you for the encouraging words…I will store them …no expiry dates for sure.

I feel better these days, have my court date in Michigan to try to fight the careless driving charge.
It is on May 6th, Monday.
My wife and I driving there to be present though lawyer said not really necessary.
Saturday before we are going to see a Christian concert at
the Sunshine Community Church in Grand Rapids.
Third Day – The Miracle Tour
Colton Dixon, Josh Wilson
We bought the tickets long time ago so we are going to praise the Lord with songs.
“The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials.”
Just read this somewhere here on a connecting page , how true it is.

Frank, will pray about this and that God is glorified in all the outcome is. I love how your faith remains strong and you are praising Him in this storm. These worship bands are among my favorite too sir.

Praise the Lord!!!
My careless driving charge was dropped on Monday.
Now this means it will not show up on my driver abstract.
Next hurdle is the upcoming grievance meeting.
Now I have lot less anxiety as I read the bible everyday.
Weekend was fantastic with the Christian concert Saturday and a service Sunday morning at Ada Bible Church with Jeff Manion.
Who was just in the middle of a series called The Journey of trust.
Felt like it was custom made for my situation..how to keep your faith in difficult times.
Bought his book :The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions.
This one too was written to me and about me.
What a Great God we have…surrounding me with signs of his caring.
Jack….again thank you for praying for me and for the words of support

Frank, isn’t our God an awesome God. That series of teaching about trust was no accident. God continues to amaze us all with His amazing grace, and divine timing. Keep us updated brother. Thank you Jesus for intervening in Frank’s life.

Hello please pray for me so that my trust and faith in God will increase. I am facing a few trials in life after my mom’s death and I am hearing the Lord tell me to relocate but because of the lack of money and not knowing if I’m able to find a new job is causing me to doubt if God will see me through. Please help me and give some words of encouragement if possible. Thanks

Hi Jack thanks for the scriptures before, I felt peace and joy cause I was following the Holy Spirit but I stumbled and for the past few days I have been trying to get back on track but it seems to be not working and was wondering how can I get back on track with the Holy Spirit? One of my random thoughts is that I am doubting my prayers which I don’t want to do and want to get over that doubt but how can I since I am doubting my prayers, god won’t answe my prayers for help when I doubt.

Hello pastor Jack I am having alittle trouble, my youth leader said that leaning the voice of the Holy Spirit will take alon time to figure out his voice and we sometimes mistake our thoughts as not of the Holy Spirit. So I thought if my thoughts were myself or the Holy Spirit so I stopped thinking by that I mean quieting my thoughts and after I did that I didn’t “hear” the Holy Spirit in my thoughts and I was asking myself if all this time I was just following my thoughts or the Holy Spirit but not sure. I do remember getting convicted and last week I was fiollowing the Holy Spirit and I felt peace happy and joyful and I was believing more and now I sin and I more than usual and I don’t want To do that. I’m feel lost and lonely

I believe you are too focused on yourself. Try going to visit the sick in the hospital, visit residences in the nursing home (only 3 in 10 have ever have ANY visitors), write letters to prisoners or visit someone there, or serve in a soup kitchen, volunteer for Vacation Bible School, etc. You can not depend on feelings as you say you “feel” lost and “lonely” so why not get out there where there are people. Get some Bible tracks, go door to door, I witnessed to the men in the barber shop today….last week I did this a a bus stop (captive audiences). Try and stop looking at you and see to the needs of others for we are to love others above ourselves and put the love of God FIRST and His kingdom (Matt 6:33).

Hi Jack I am concerned because I have random thoughts like “I don’t care about god and I don’t care if I sin” and I don’t know how to get rid of those thoughts and it seems like I don’t care about sin and I am worried cause I don’t know if I M bearing fruit. What should I do to get rid of these thoughts? I don’t know if these are my own thoughts cause i don’t think they are

New International Version (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.he Bible says

in the book of Acts 10:38-

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
And in,
Psalm 34:19 says;
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD will deliver them out of them ALL!”

I would say to you firstly to acknowledge and consider carefully what these verses say to us/you. These thoughts and feelings as well as your propensity to sin willfully without proper checks and balances are nothing less than demonic oppression! The good news is that nothing in this world and absolutely no devil/demon is more powerful than our Heavenly Father, Jesus our the Holy Spirit! God has provided for us ALL that we need to live a vigorously victorious life in Christ Jesus. However, we must diligently resist (actively fight with purposeful intent, knowing God gives us the victory in Him) the devil and every thought of evil and force them to bow to the authority of Christ in us as believers. One way to clear the conscious mind and the conscience from harboring, entertaining and constantly cultivating the seeds of evil planned by the spiritual enemy of our souls is to live a life of having a repenting heart. All sin must be acknowledged for what it is and forsaken before God. Then He promised to strengthen you and free you from the bondage of Satan and his attacks. Repent if you haven’t already from your heart not just your mind, renounce Satan and his ways and take your God-given authority over this tormenting problem that this evil entity has managed to plague you with! Link together with a stronger Christian or band of Christians who are willing to stand with you in prayer and fasting till this thing breaks. But I admonish you, NEVER give up, NEVER cave in our quit, victory is assured if you trust God and add these fruits (“works”)of faith in Christ!

Everyone, please pray for me. I have an extreme anxiety disorder that has continued to get worse and worse over the years. I desperately need faith at this moment. I am terrified at what the future holds for me. Please pray that God will take this away.

Wow Mr. Pieczara. I must say your own words about encouragement and truth have been established by what you wrote. I thank you too sir. I am certain that you must be a Barnabas in the church that you attend or wherever you are at work, public, and with your family. May God richly bless you sir for you have greatly encouraged me Mr. Pieczara.

I am trusting God for a miracle,he has done so much for me and deep down my heart i know he would do what ever he says he would do.But there are times,just for a second i doubt,then i doubt the doubt. I pray a lot,listen to the word of God,fast but still have that moment.Lord please help my unbelief.i have so many testimonies in my life but still..

I WAS IN A SITUATION ONCE AND LOST ALL HOPE THAT GOD WASNT GOING TO HELP ME BUT HE MADE KNOW THAT FROM THE DAY I WAS BORN AND WILL LOVE ME ALWAYS…..HE MADE A WAY FOR ME WHERE I THOUGHT IT COULDNT BE POSSIBLE AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH THAT I ALWAYS PRAY FOR HIS WILL TO BE DONE IN ME……..PRAISE THE LORD

Jack,
This article had me in tears. Thank you. I suffer from severe anxiety and particularly hypochondria. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and I am paralyzed by fear of what they might say – or worse that I would need to see other doctors and undergo testing and more waiting.

I know I need to strengthen my faith. I have to remember the “I believe, help my unbelief”, because I feel like that is where I am. I fully being in Jesus Christ and his resurrection, but somehow I doubt that God loves ME or would care about me, heal me physically and emotionally, do all of this for my good. I hear many say that anxiety and hypochondria are a sin, and it tears me up inside that all of this is punishment and I am not really saved. I long to be of a sound mind and find true rest and comfort in God’s love. I know I need to strengthen my faith, and my prayer life needs attention, so thank you for helping me see ways to get there!

Thank you Sarah. Our church deaconess suffers from the very same thing. She goes thru valleys and dark nights of the soul. This doesn’t mean you aren’t saved though. This is the enemy telling you this. Besides, God forgive us of ALL of our sins, and that means doubts, anxiety, and depression. I would speak with your pastor about this too for he can probably help you and see the prayers of the saints, even if its an “unspoken needs” prayer request. I pray for you friend. God never gives up on us!

Thank you for your response! And for the reminder that God never gives up on us – that is important to remember. I have one question of opinion for you, since you know someone that deals with the same thing – I am struggling with the idea of taking medication for the anxiety. Some say it is nothing to be ashamed of because it is a chemical imbalance, while others say that Biblically you should not since it is a sin. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

There is nothing wrong at all with taking medication. You have nothing to be ashamed about. Read Psalm 103 because it says that God knows our hearts and our frame and that we are frail and feeble, made only of dust. Luke was a physician who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts and I think it’s no accident that Paul took him with them on their missionary trips. If we got a virus, we’d get medicine from any doctor. Those who say it is a sin to take medicine for they think its a lack of faith even Jesus said “the sick need a physician” and so if we got a broken bone, would they also criticize someone for going to the doctor to get it fixed? No! Don’t listen to them. Seek help. There is no sin in that. There is not one Bible verse anywhere that says it is a lack of faith for those who seek a doctor’s help!

I would disagree that Faith can come by praying for it. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God, as you did a great jog of detailing. But if people think they just ask God for, they will not know what they have faith in. That comes from the word. Blessings.

Thank you very much for this article. If I may expand upon your ‘how to’ build your personal faith life, please consider the importance of a community that holds Jesus as the greatest common factor.

Sometimes, my thinking is not well thought out, nor Christ-centric. I need prayer groups, groups of men and women that hold Jesus as their savior. I know that if I share with them any trials, that their responses take Jesus, his life and testimony, into consideration.

This is critical for me on a personal level, in that I can more easily enact God’s will for me when I have ‘checks and balances’ in my life through great friendships. Amen.

Goodmorning My name is Wedu from Botswana Africa ,I have been following this post ,its amazing how Genesis made me realise am not the only one going through all types of mixed emotions about faith,hope ,love and sin,in all honesty the list is endless ,I miss my spirituality so bad it hurts ,I can pray right now ,I don’t know who I am ,I have been thinking its about dead season from Ezekiel 37,BUT its been too long ,God see me through ,I need people in prayer to help with it ,I want to fear God and miss being connected to Holy sprit ,yours poor soul

Hi Sir, My name is Karabo from South Africa for years I’ve been wondering, cracking my head trying to figure out what is it that I’m doing wrong why is there so much bad luck in my life, even though I prayed, I realise now that my FAITH was not alive, my heart was always filled with doubts. One thing I knew deep down was that the answer I’m looking for is within my reach but couldn’t figure out what it was. Now I know that all i need is to have faith in Jesus Christ, believe in him and the word of God. Its only been a few days since I’ve discovered this but I can already feel the difference. My mood has improved, I’m able to function. Whenever these doubts, anxiety, anger or hatred creep up in my head, I silently pray. I know I still have a long way to go but now I know that Jesus is on my side. Thank you so much , I’ve learned a lot from this website. May God bless you

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